Surgery #3

Today Zack had his third surgery. He had his tubes put in his ears for all of the infections he has had. I don't care how "simple" a procedure is supposed to be, it brings tears to my eyes every time when the doctor has to come in the room and take him away from me. Talk about a sick feeling in your stomach... trying to be upbeat to your baby, knowing what is coming for them, and sending them away to have it done. Ugh...
Anyway, the surgery went very well and he was done very fast. When he woke up he was very disoriented and cranky, but at least it was outpatient and we were on our way home in no time. The rest of the day has consisted of longer naps, more crankiness, and yet also a lot of "unsure" of what he wants to do kind of behavior! He is acting super silly one minute, screaming the next, then crying to be held (then when we picked him up, even more crying to be put down). Here's hoping tomorrow is better!!

This is OBVIOUSLY not today! This was taken yesterday... pre-surgery!

Just more ear infections.

Just when I think we are done, we aren't! I really have so little to complain about when it comes to Zack's health, but lately, it seems like we are spending more time at the doctor's office than we did when he was first born!!
On Sunday Zack started having a low fever. Monday that low fever turned into a temp of 103 degrees. By Tuesday, it was up to 104 degrees (Oh, and with no other symptoms). I took him to the dr. and he said both of his ears were infected AGAIN (Keep in mind his latest ear infections were just at the beginning of October AND the end of October!)! He also said that he wasn't so sure the high fevers weren't coming from something else too, but started treating him with an antibiotic shot anyway.
Overnight Zack started throwing up, so we took him back to the dr. again today and got another shot and some blood work done, but nothing really was out of the ordinary there. UGH! I don't want it to be anything, but I want it to be something so we know how to fix it (make sense?!)!!
Anyway, we are just watching him at this point to see what happens. But in 2 weeks we go back to the dr. for his second flu/swine flu shots, then the day after that for his tube surgery. By this point, you'd think we would have a personalized room just for us wherever we went... but no!

Tubes

Well, we visited the ENT doctor yesterday and Zack will be getting tubes put in his ears. He's had about 5 ear infections in the past 7 months or so, and the dr. said he only needed 3 in 6 months to possibly qualify. So we have scheduled December 2nd to have the surgery to put the tubes in... and guess where we will have the surgery... St. Mark's Hospital! We're going back. Although, this time we are so happy that it will be less than a day.

He's walking... sort of!

On November 6th, Zack starting taking his first steps!! We practiced all day and he was doing so great, then Jared came home and he didn't want to take more than about 2 steps!
I think he likes to walk because I get so excited... and then he gets excited and tries to walk so fast (practically running) that he falls forward!

Zack, Talon, and Lucas

It is so fun to have little cousins Zack's age... or maybe not exact age, but size!! We found these cute little outfits for BYU and had to get a picture with them in it. Lucas is only a few months old, but is so cute. And then Talon! What to say about him except that his smile cracks me up! Such a cheese. And we were just lucky to have Zack stay still long enough to be in the picture. SO FUNNY!

Ear Infections

So Zack has run into a case of ear infections! In the past 7 months he's had 4-5 infections (some of which have never gone away), so we will be heading to an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist in 2 weeks to see if Zack will be going in for surgery to get tubes put in his ears.
It makes me sad to see Zack uncomfortable with this, so hopefully we will have an end in sight... whether it's for surgery or not.

What a kid!

I have been trying lately to get some cute pictures of Zack, and do you think he will cooperate? NO! He won't sit still, he won't look at the camera, and most of all, he won't smile!!! On occasion I sneak one in that I like, but that's only if my finger is on the button to snap right away. Does anyone else ever have this problem?! Oh, and his little nose scrunchy thing, he does that ALL the time right now! Weirdo!!!

One year ago today

It was a year ago today that Zack was able to come home from the hospital! That could have been the weirdest day of our lives!!! So many happy and sad feelings at one time. Being able to leave our house for the "last time" just the two of us, getting into the car and not knowing how to use the carseat, making sure we weren't being too loud when we got home (we were probably whispering all day!), watching the clock continuously to make sure we were on the NICU schedule :D, and just having the freedom to play with Zack all we wanted without the rules and restrictions! WHEW!
This past year has gone by so fast, but we have had so much fun and like everyone says, we'd never go back to being just the two of us. And as I sit here, Zack is trying to tickle me and get my attention to go play with him, all I have to say is that I just love him so much, and I am so happy he is home!!

Zack is so funny! He gets in his high chair and likes to show me his feet!!

New toy

This is a toy Zack got when he was born! Needless to say, he was too small for it then, but look at him now... he LOVES this 4-wheeler!! This is the look on his face when he first got on it, and every day since then, it's the look on his face when he still gets on it!!

Updates again!

So it's been awhile since I have posted anything about Zack! He is just so mobile now, my time that I used to spend blogging, I spend picking up after him again and again!!
Zack is crawling faster and faster everyday. He walks all around the furniture, gets into any cabinet he can, and our new favorite, he will find a toy (or really anything "small enough") and he puts it in his mouth before he starts crawling so he can bring it with him! It's like a 3rd hand he just discovered!!
He is 14 months old today and he weighs about 16 pounds and is still in 3-6 month size clothes. I know I need to be grateful for really getting the use out of these sizes, but I am anxious for newer clothes now!
Zack also is starting to say more things... still is the baby talk mostly, but when he sees us making his bottles, he starts saying "ba ba" and every now and then he'll say "mom" (he's been saying "da da" for so long now, I don't even count that anymore!). He's really becomes more and more fun everyday.
When did he start getting so grown up though?!

This picture was taken by our very talented neighbor! If you can't tell, he's a professional!

What would we do without these?

Zack's favorite snack are the little flavored puffs that look like Cheerios!! If I even shake the container of them, he gets the biggest smile on his face. Cutest thing. They have saved us pretty much every week at church (I now understand the concept of bringing Cheerios to church to please your child!), many times while out to a store, and my favorite, while trying to get anything done around the house! Just put Zack in the highchair with a handful of these puffs, and we are good to go!

Something new!

What a week and a half for Zack!! On the 18th he officially crawled. He's been scooting around and all, but now, it's full force ahead for that little guy!! His favorite thing to do is scope out anywhere where I don't want him to go, and head there as fast as he can! He also really loves to stand himself up on everything, which turned into a bump/cut on his lip yesterday. But other than that, he's "movin" along now!!

Yesterday was even better for something new... his first tooth!! I scared him when I felt it because I screamed "YAY" and he had no idea what the big fuss was, but I am so excited! Just one more thing that shows he's getting to be a big boy now... I'll get a picture as soon as I can on this one!

Silly guy!

We finally had to lower Zack's crib down one notch!! He's been getting stronger everyday, and is starting to pull himself up on more things, scoot/crawl around, so we are really trying to keep a closer eye on him now. Here are some pics of him playing in his crib, instead of taking his nap (which isn't going so well now that he knows how to stand up!). As mad as I wanted to be that he wouldn't go to sleep, I couldn't help but take pictures and laugh at him!!!

Day at the Zoo

The boys having fun!



For Zack's birthday, my sister and I took our kids to the zoo. We had such a good time. Just getting out and doing something new was nice. Zack and Talon were troopers too. The day was pretty hot, but we all had a great time!
Amanda cooling Talon off!
Talon was worn out.

Thanks sis for a fun day at the zoo!

Happy Birthday Zack!!

Zack is 1 year old today! What a sweet little boy we have. He has come so far, and we couldn't love him more!!!
He is currently starting to 'scoot' around (not all the way to an official crawl yet), and so we are starting to really baby proof our house now! But what a fun age he is... so playful and happy... yet he is starting to do a little whiny girly sounding scream! Not as fun, but he's still just as cute!!!
Anyway, Happy Birthday to my sweet little Zack!

Picture time!

We have been taking a lot of pictures lately. These ones are from all of Zack's cousins in Jared's family getting together to take pictures for Father's Day. All the kids were wearing the cowboy hats, white shirts, and jeans. They turned out so cute, but here are a few of just Zack. What a cute boy!!

Horse ride

My father in law has a horse named Chinco that is his pride and joy in life! So we took Zack to see the horse the other day and he isn't scared of anything!! Zack kept wanting to touch the horse and stare at the horse, and he quite enjoyed sitting on the horse.

There were also bunnies, chickens/chicks, and birds that we showed to Zack and he really loved the birds! He kept kicking and waving his arms when he saw them!
It was cute to see the Jared and Zack together!

High Chair

We have our high chair and Zack loves it! Who am I kidding? Anything new to him is great!! He is a little small in there... wait. Where have I heard that before?!

First time swimming!

While we were in St. George we went swimming... and Zack loved it!! We bought him the floaty for him to sit in and he just sat there being so content. So much fun.

Also while we were in St. George, Zack clapped his hands for the first time!! I have been working with him to do it, and then all of a sudden there he was doing it. Now I just say "clap your hands" and he gets a huge smile on his face and starts clapping!
Wonder what he'll do next...

I have been wanting to know a specific day as to when Zack decided to start sitting on his own, but it's just been so random! He would sit for a short amount of time, tip over, sit for a little longer, then tip over, and so on. Now, he's just sitting anywhere I put him, and only tips over very rarely! So the point of this post is just to say that Zack is now sitting, but for how long, I don't know!!

This picture is just so sweet too. He falls asleep in the car pretty easy, and this is how he fell asleep recently. So cute, I had to take a picture!

Two new favorite toys!

Zack is so silly right now! He is starting to scoot around, and with that, he has found a new toy. His swing. No, this isn't new to him, but underneath the swing is where he plays now! He scoots himself so he gets under it then he starts swinging it back and forth. Who new that would impress him so much?! Also, he loves his bouncer thing (I don't know the actual name for it all of a sudden!). This is a video of him recently... he seems to hit his head, but it doesn't phase him. He loves it!!

A lot of firsts!

Zack has had a lot of firsts these past couple of weeks. First, our trip to California! Everything there was a first for him, so that was an adventure! He did so well with it all, maybe we should do it again!
Also, he got his first haircut. Keep in mind that I thought it wouldn't be that hard to just trim up the top, but man, he kept wanting to look up to see what I was doing! This could be the hardest haircut I have ever done!! Even now, I see spots that need help... but do you think I am going to attempt this one again soon, no!

Before

After

And then yesterday, for his 10 month day, I took him into the doctor because he has been coughing a lot, throwing up, has had a fever, etc. He has an ear infection. Whoosh... with everything that's going on with the world right now, this was the last thing I wanted to see. So I will take the ear infection (which Zack is handling very well), and keep the antibotics going in.
On a little side note, he weighed exactly 13 pounds on his 10 month birthday. So he's really getting big!